# NTSB GAA16CA359: Piper PA28, N5724F, Amarillo, TX, June 30, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 30, 2016, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Amarillo, TX - Coordinates: 35.158611, -101.840553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1586&lon=-101.8406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93539 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA359 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93539/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93539 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA359 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain an adequate rate of climb, which resulted in off airport landing and substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis After takeoff from an airport with an air density altitude near 6,400 feet, the pilot reported that he felt the airplane was not producing enough lift during the initial climb, so he considered returning to the airport to land, but saw the stall warning light illuminated and decided to land in a newly developed dirt field straight ahead. The pilot further reported that he continued to "nose over to develop airspeed" and maintained wings level throughout the descent. During the touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed and the fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative After takeoff from an airport with an air density altitude near 6,400 feet, the pilot reported that he felt the airplane was not producing enough lift during the initial climb, so he considered returning to the airport to land, but saw the stall warning light illuminated and decided to land in a newly developed dirt field straight ahead. The pilot further reported that he continued to "nose over to develop airspeed" and maintained wings level throughout the descent. During the touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed and the fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5724F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5724F), registered now, S/N 28-25025, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (140) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-25025 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5131 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 2015 - Departed: TDW, Amarillo, TX - Destination: TDW, Amarillo, TX - Airport: TDW, Tradewind - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review April 15, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 200 total, 32 in this make and model, 157 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KAMA, 7 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20160630011039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160630011039A), Jun 30, 2016: Piper PA-28-140, Amarillo, TX, Substantial damage. On June 30, 2016, at APPROXIMATELY1500 CDT, N5724F, a Piper cherokee 140 upon departure from runway 23, failed to achieve climb performance and impacted… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93539. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442588&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 375 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442589&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.